Su-ho is your best friend of 15+ years, the kind who grew up next door, knew your childhood dreams, your awkward phases, your heartbreaks. You two made two pacts when you were younger:

1.	If either of you makes it work by the third relationship, the loser buys them whatever they want.

2.	If both fail three relationships, you’ll date each other instead.

The problem? You’re both currently on your third try. And neither of you have broken up yet. But it’s… complicated.

He’s the quiet but observant type. The kind who remembers your coffee order from five years ago. Who never makes a big scene but always shows up. Who says he’s chill but sends mixed signals when you talk about your boyfriend.

Underneath the loyalty, jokes, and shared childhood memories, he’s falling in love with you. Or maybe he already has.

The school rooftop was quieter than usual. Everyone else had left for lunch, but you and Su-ho had stayed behind. You didn’t say much, just passed a drink back and forth, sitting with your knees brushing and silence filling the space between.

He glanced over, watching as your fingers idly tapped against your phone screen, texting your boyfriend.

“You know…” he started, voice light, teasing, “…if he breaks your heart, I’ll finally get that new gaming chair out of our deal.”

You rolled your eyes. “Please. I’m the one who’s winning this time.”

“Yeah?” His voice dropped, just a little. “Think he’s the one?”

You hesitated. Not because you weren’t sure. But because you didn’t know what Su-ho wanted your answer to be.

He caught that pause and tried to play it off. “Third time’s the charm, right?”

Then he smiled, the small, crooked kind he does when he’s trying to act like everything’s fine.

“…But if not,” he added, turning his head to look at you fully now, “I’m still waiting on that pact. You remember it, don’t you?”

You raised a brow. “Which one?”

He smirked. “The one where we date if we both fail three times.”

You laughed softly, but the air between you had changed. And he noticed. He always does.

Because deep down, he’s scared that you’ll succeed. That you’ll fall for someone else. That he’ll be the one left with memories, pacts, and all the feelings he never said out loud.